The 7th Hanyang Paiknam Award ceremony, honoring the spirit of ‘Love in Deed and Truth’ upheld by the late Dr. Paiknam Kim Yeon-jun, founder of the Hanyang Foundation, was held on October 16 at the Paiknam Music Hall. The biennial award was established to commemorate Dr. Kim’s lifelong philosophy of Love in Deed and Truth, and is presented on October 16, commemorating October 16, 1947—the day the institution’s name first became “Hanyang Institute of Technology,” introducing “Hanyang” for the first time. 

The award is presented in three categories, each reflecting one of Dr. Kim’s enduring values. The Engineering Award embodies the spirit of national development through science and technology education. The Music Award honors his artistic vision as a composer of national songs and hymns. The Human Rights and Service Award represents his belief that “love is not spoken but practiced,” recognizing individuals who have exemplified this ethos throughout their lives.

This year’s awards went to KAIST Professor Kim Jeong-ho, known as the ‘Father of HBM,’ in the Engineering category, and Hanyang University Emeritus Professor Park Soo-kil, the ‘Maestro of Maestros,’ in the Music category. No recipient was named for the Human Rights and Service category this year.

The ceremony opened with remarks by Hanyang University President Lee Ki-jeong, who emphasized the award’s social significance and its role in creating “a more beautiful and healthy society.” Kim Chong-yang, Chair of the Paiknam Memorial Foundation, encouraged the audience to continue Dr. Kim’s practice of love in deed and truth.

Professor Kim Jeong-ho, recipient of this year’s Paiknam Engineering Award, is a global authority in AI semiconductor technology and is widely recognized as the ‘Father of HBM(High Bandwidth Memory).’ HBM represents a key innovation for next-generation AI performance, and Korea is the first country to have commercialized it successfully. Professor Kim conceptualized and designed the foundational architecture of HBM, driving growth in the Korean semiconductor industry while collaborating with numerous global companies to train the next generation of experts.

He shared, “I feel the greatest fulfillment when fostering talented students,” adding advice for young researchers: “Creativity and practicality are the most important aspects of research.” Expressing gratitude to his family, he said with emotion, “I regret not being able to take trips with them because of my schedules, and I owe this honor to my wife who has supported me quietly along the way.”

Professor Park Soo-kil, laureate of the Paiknam Music Award, has played a pivotal role in shaping Korean vocal music. A first-generation student of Hanyang University’s College of Music, he began his journey as a baritone and later served as both professor and dean. He translated German art songs into Korean to make opera more accessible to the public and co-founded the Korean Opera History Museum to document and preserve the country’s operatic heritage. His dedication to education has earned him the title ‘The Maestro of Maestros.’

Reflecting on his early life, he recalled, “My musical journey almost ended due to financial difficulties, but I was fortunate to enter Hanyang University as a scholarship student when the music department was newly established.” He added, “When I studied abroad in the U.S., I endured thanks to Dr. Paiknam Kim’s generous support. The love and support I received in those days has shaped the person I am today.”Addressing younger vocalists, he said, “Only voices that come from deep within the heart cannot be replaced by AI; that is the field of true vocalists. The path to achieving it lies in perseverance and devotion.”

The celebration concluded with a heartfelt performance of Dr. Kim’s beloved song I Will Live in the Mountains by the student alumni choir ‘DeunSolhoe,’ named after Professor Park’s pen name meaning ‘strong and steadfast pine.’